If you’ve ever enjoyed asian cooking, then you know that soy sauce is one of the most common condiments. However, not everyone can have soy sauce, or they are looking for a gluten-free alternative, or perhaps they have just run out! So what should you do? You could try black bean sauce or chili sauce instead! If none of these sound good to you, there are plenty more dark soy sauces out there waiting to be tried! We’ll tackle those in this blog post.
Easy Dark Soy Sauce Substitues
If you’re looking for a dark soy sauce substitute, then you’re in luck! Dark soy sauce is also sometimes called black soy sauce. It is thicker and darker than regular soy sauce, and sweeter too. There are a variety of different sauces that can approximate the flavor of soy sauce. This includes black bean sauce, chili sauce, hoisin sauce and oyster sauce.
Depending on your dish’s flavor profile, you may want to experiment with one of these sauces in order to find the perfect substitute. If any of these substitutes does not have enough sweetness for your taste, be sure to add a bit of brown sugar!
Black Bean Sauce
If you are looking for a substitute for dark soy sauce, then black bean sauce is one of the perfect alternatives. It has a similar salty flavor to that of dark soy sauce, but it also has an added sweet taste. That means it can be used in many different Asian dishes to enhance flavor without changing the main ingredient too much. It also shares the same dark color.
Black bean sauce is made by cooking fermented beans with salt and sugar before coating them with corn starch and frying them until they turn into a paste-like texture. It has a very strong flavor, so it may not be the best option for all dishes, though. However, some people like its intense flavor.
If you’re trying to avoid soy sauce for health reasons — whether it’s because of sodium or because of the high levels of soy in general — black bean sauce is a good option.
Chili Sauce
A chili sauce has many different names, including chili garlic sauce and chili paste. This substitute for dark soy sauce contains spices that were traditionally used in Southeast Asia, but it’s now available worldwide. It can be served alone or with other ingredients to make a dipping sauce.
For those of you who are looking for ways to get more flavor in your dishes, without the high sodium content of dark soy sauce, then chili sauce is a great substitute. It can be used in any way that you would normally use dark soy sauce–in soups, as a marinade for meat and vegetables, or as a stir-fry base. And, because chili sauce is already flavorful, you won’t need to use as much of it as you would dark soy sauce. This will help keep your sodium intake down, without sacrificing flavor.
So the next time you’re looking for a way to add more depth of flavor to your dish, give chili sauce a try!
Hoisin Sauce
Hoisin sauce is made from various spices and has a sweeter flavor than chili sauce. It can be used as a dark soy sauce substitute for dipping sauces or marinades. Most hoisin sauces have less than 500 milligrams of sodium per serving. This is a high amount, so you may want to limit how much you use in dishes that aren’t meant for dipping.
Hoisin sauce is a great substitute for dark soy sauce because it has a similar flavor profile. Hoisin sauce can be used in many different types of dishes and has a sweet undertone that provides an excellent balance to salty flavors. It’s also low in calories, and shares the same dark color.
If you’re looking for a substitute for dark soy sauce, Hoisin sauce is definitely worth considering.
Oyster Sauce
Oyster sauce is another option and it has a more intense flavor than hoisin sauce. It can be made with different types of seafood — including oysters — and other spices. Many recipes call specifically for oyster sauce, so it may not be the best substitute. Oyster sauce is low in sodium and is rich in protein, so it can be a healthy option near the end of your cooking process.
The oyster flavor brings a deep, rich taste to dishes like fried rice and chow mein while still preserving the salty-sweet balance that soy sauce offers. Oyster sauce is also a great way to add umami flavor to meat and vegetable dishes. You can find oyster sauce in most grocery stores, making it an easy addition to your cooking repertoire.
If you’re allergic to oysters, have no fear, we have a list of substitutes for oyster sauce which will all work!
Even More Dark Soy Sauce Substitutes
Whether you’re looking for a soy sauce substitute because of dietary restrictions or because you want to try something new, there are plenty of options to choose from. Experiment with different flavors and find the perfect sauce for your dish!
It of course, really depends on the dis you are making. In many cases you may be able to use light soy sauce or regular soy sauce in the place of dark soy sauce. Since dark soy sauce is sweeter than many of its counterparts, you may also want to add a bit of brown sugar to your soy sauce. This will help thicken it up and darken the color too. Molasses is another great option to add to your regular soy sauce to make it more like dark soy sauce.
We hope this article has given you a lot to think about when it comes to your choices for dark soy sauce substitutes. Whether you’re trying to avoid the high levels of sodium or because you want to try something new, there are plenty of options available that will make a big difference in how your dishes taste. The next time you’re looking for ways to add more depth of flavor without changing too much, consider one of these sauces as an alternative!